Natalya’s path to a WWE ring wasn’t a simple as it might seem. Sure, her father was Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart. He teamed with Natalya’s uncle, Bret “The Hitman” Hart, both members of the WWE hall of fame. Her uncles also included ring generals, Owen Hart and “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith. Natalya is the granddaughter of Stu Hart, the Patriarch of the Hart family, legendary wrestler, promoter, and trainer. Her granddad trained wrestling greats in his famous Calgary “Dungeon.” However, as Natalya articulates in her memoir “The Last Hart Beating,” becoming a WWE superstar was far from one, two, three. Natalya dreamed of being a famous wrestler, like her colorful father, but as admitted in the preface, Bret Hart actually discouraged her early aspirations. In the end, her determination and dedication to the sport made her one of the greatest women wrestlers the industry as even seen.
I emphatically enjoyed Natalya’s story, and appreciate the honesty shared in her magnificent book. Her father was a character in the ring, but he suffered with addiction and depression. It was later determined that “The Anvil” likely suffered brain damage from playing football, that was exacerbated by becoming a professional wrestler. The former Women’s champion recalls approaching WWE boss Vince McMahon about putting her father in the hall of fame, and McMahon claiming he thought he was already in.
Along her wrestling journey, Natalya would find her tag team partner for life, and loving husband, TJ Wilson. Her husband wrestled under the ring name of Tyson Kidd, until an in ring injury cut his career short in 2015. Natalya recalls being approached about doing the “Total Divas” reality show, and marry her sweetheart on the program. The Bella Twins, cast mates on the program, worked with Natalya in the developmental system. Natalya talks about the financial difficulties of breaking into the business, developing an eating disorder.
Natalya shares her personal experiences with head honcho Vince McMahon, and demonstrates the former chairman of the board’s many complexities. In the book, Natalya reveals ideas she pitched directly to McMahon, and how they were received. She divulges her true feelings when they insisted on the flatulence story line. She also recounts the priceless advice she learned from mat legends like “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes, Arn Anderson, and Fit Finlay. “The Last Hart Beating” is highly recommended. Natalya also does a fantastic job narrating the audiobook version.
By: Natalya Neidhart
Narrated by: Natalya Neidhart
Length: 8 hrs and 20 mins
Release date: 10-28-25
Publisher: Brilliance Audio